A 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 senior hugs a loved one at Cultural Graduation, which celebrates the accomplishments 和 determination of students of color 和 those who identify as first generation 和 LGBTQIA+ college students.
阿宾顿,爸爸. - 40人 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 老年人, the theme of the Spring 2024 Cultural Graduation, "Against All Odds: Triumphing Over Adversity,”产生了共鸣. 他们中的大多数人在2020年完成了高中学业, 和, 由于大流行, 他们没有经历过传统的毕业舞会, 颁奖典礼或毕业典礼.
So on an April evening in the Sutherl和 Auditorium, 他们穿上最好的衣服, 和 they cheered 和 cried along with loved ones, 教职员工 as they marked a milestone that many never dreamed they would achieve: earning a bachelor’s degree.
“This is a celebration of the village 和 family who have supported you every step of the way. There are no limitations on your joy tonight, so dance, sing 和 shout to the ancestors,” Aneesah史密斯的主任 学生 Office of 多样性, Equity, 和 Inclusion 孝子女士,说.
SODEI’s Cultural Graduation highlights the accomplishments 和 struggles of students of color 和 those who identify as first-generation 和 LGBTQIA+ college students. It is traditionally held a few days in advance of the official spring 和 fall commencement exercises.
Several students including Mildred Petite-Frere 和 Maleeah Rashid spoke about how their experiences at 阿宾顿, the most diverse campus in the Penn State ecosystem, 影响他们.
“Work is more than making living, it’s having a purpose. I learned about teamwork, dedication, 和 tapping into my unknown potential. I created a family here,” Petite-Frere said.
拉希德成为了SODEI的学生大使.
“I discovered that I’m stronger than my biggest fears. My time at 阿宾顿 gave me a chance to break out of my shell,”她说。.
Each 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 senior was called to the stage at Cultural Graduation with a key person in their life who presented them with a graduation stole.
宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 老年人 celebrated Cultural Graduation with their loved ones along with 教职员工.
A 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 student receives a graduation stole from a loved one at Cultural Graduation.
The emotional peak of the evening occurred when each senior was called to the stage to thank their loved ones, 教职员工. They each were accompanied by a key supporter who draped a graduation sash around their neck.
阿宾顿 administrators hailed the students for their remarkable achievements 和 personal growth. 妮可·斯托克斯, interim vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, attributed much of the students’ success to their development of a growth mindset.
"You see the world from an abundance perspective, 和 it leads you to look for solutions. 你已经克服了这么多, 和 you should frame these experience as you think about your next journey,”她说。.
吉娜·考夫曼, 学生事务主任, thanked the students for unknowingly helping 教职员工 develop their experiences during the p和emic.
“You are individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who with grace 和 tenacity navigated unfamiliar l和scapes. Remember that adversity doesn’t define us, it refines us,”她说。.
艾琳·弗利，主任 体育，校内和娱乐, praised the student-athletes 和 reminded all students that the principles that apply to success on the field are relevant in real life as well.
“You must position yourselves to face completion, 无论是场内还是场外, 用你的勇气和适应能力. These skills will translate into creating avenues for your success,”她说。.
关于宾大阿宾顿
宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 provides an affordable, accessible 和 high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. 有3个以上,100名学生, 宾州州立大学阿宾顿分校 is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 25 majors, 速成硕士学位, 本科研究, 施赖尔荣誉学院, NCAA三级田径和更多.
